SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories from the Lotus Sutra

Dogen-Zenji so cherished the Lotus Sutra that he actually carved a selection of it into his door. This, the core text of not only Zen but the whole of Mahayana Buddhism, has never lost its appeal among practitioners of the Way. Join us for our SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories From the Lotus Sutra led by Sensei Joshin Byrnes, Sensei Genzan Quennell

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People from all over the world come to Upaya to
practice, serve, and learn. Upaya completely supports their presence
as they stay with us from three months to a year. Please support
this program.

EDITOR'S NOTE

We are excited to invite you to two special events coming up: on September 19, a screening of the extraordinary documentary Beyond Right and Wrong, in which victims and perpetrators of violence move beyond their conclusions about one another to explore what it means to live forgiveness.

And on September 20, the incredible poet Jimmy Santiago Baca will speak and share a sneak-peak of the new documentary based on his autobiography, A Place to Stand. In his poem, "Ten," JSB writes:

If it does not feed the fire of your creativity, then leave it. If people and things do not inspire your heart to dream, then leave them. If you are not crazily in love and making a stupid fool of yourself, then step closer to the edge of your heart and climb where you've been forbidden to go. Debts, accusations, assaults by enemies mean nothing, go where the fire feeds you.

Roshi Bernie Glassman teaches living "without fixed ideas or answers," as an approach to Peacemaking. This is the practice of Not Knowing; as the Zen ancestor Dizang said, "Not Knowing is most intimate."

Please check this calendar for changes to the midday meditation session.

Please note that Upaya has limited parking. We greatly appreciate it if you are able to walk, bike, or carpool! Please park in the East parking lot (the second driveway - the one farther from town) unless it is full. No parking on Cerro Gordo Road and please be careful not to block the fire hydrant by parallel parking along driveway to the public West Parking Lot. We also ask for your mindfulness of those who use the public park and our neighbors. Thank you.

BEYOND RIGHT & WRONG: Special Screening at Upaya Zen Center

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 5:30 p.m.

This transformative documentary explores what happens as victims of three devastating conflicts attempt to rebuild their lives, balancing their need for justice with the desire to forgive.

When people RSVP and watch Beyond Right & Wrong at Upaya, the charity of choice (CreativeVisions) receives funds ($.50 for each RSVP) from Operation Kids Foundation and Share the Mic. This contribution happens behind the scene from our RSVP list. As a guest, you need do nothing but click the RSVP button and the system will automatically generate the contribution on your behalf. This film viewing is free of charge and Operation Kids Foundation AND Share the Mic are making the $.50 contribution on your behalf to CreativeVisions. A win-win situation! Together, the charities will earn up to $500,000 from the national screenings!

Upaya Zen Center is honored to bring Beyond Right & Wrong: Stories of Justice and Forgiveness (80 minutes long) to our beautiful Zendo to help raise awareness and to bring the community together.

All are welcome, however, there is a 108 maximum capacity and RSVPs will be checked at the door. If you would like to bring a guest, he/she needs to RSVP separately as only individual email accounts will be counted for both entrance to the film and for donation to the non-profit. Thank you.

This screening is part of a larger effort to promote the transformative film while sending $500,000 to charities. All RSVPs from this screening will benefit CreativeVisions, a non-profit that supports creative activists and their projects around the world.

Remember, there will be a financial contribution to CreativeVisions with each RSVP. Once we reach 108, we will not be able to accept any further reservations. Please honor this and only arrive at screening if you have RSVP'd in advance.

You are welcome to bring a guest, however, they must sign up separately using their own email address.This is how both the capacity is being monitored as well as how the donor is making the contribution per each individual email address. Thank you.

Special Event: Jimmy Santiago Baca

Please welcome poet and recipient of the prestigious International Award Jimmy Baca Santiago to Upaya Zen Center for a special dharma talk entitled The Ring in the Bell's Steel: Learning to Trust our Voices.

The talk will be held in the Circle of the Way Temple on Saturday, September 20th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. with a clip of the newly produced film, A Place To Stand. This documentary about Jimmy explores the subject of human potential will have it's National Premiere in Santa Fe on Friday, September 26th. For more information about the film, please click here.

We hope to see you at Upaya and would appreciate a RSVP to our front office at 505-986-8518 ext. 11 as our Zendo has a capacity and we will need to close the doors once reached. Carpooling is advised.

ROSHI JOAN: News, Teachings, Travels

Roshi is immersed in Upaya's Buddhist chaplaincy training program. During Upaya's chaplaincy training in mid August, she teaches a special weekend on engaged Buddhism with Roshi Bernie Glassman and Sensei Alan Senauke. She will also be co-leading Rohatsu sesshin (waitlist) in December. So consider joining her for one of these programs; early registration is advised.

Note that her book, "Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death" is to be published in an audio version. She is also working on her next book: "Inside Compassion."

We are accepting applications for Upaya's resident program. Please consider joining Roshi, Visiting Teachers, and Upaya for three months or more of dedicated practice and learning. By application, click here.

Roshi as well has a number of papers she has written on compassion. If you wish to receive a copy, please write the office: upaya@upaya.org

For several new videos of interviews with Roshi Joan on Upaya's Blog, click here.

Roshi Joan started a Google+ Community and nearly 3000 people have joined so far. Click here to join.

Roshi now has five new books available for sale at Upaya: Four are photography books — "Seeing Inside," "About Face," "Original Face: Unmediated Expressions of Tibet, Nepal, Burma," and "Leaning into the Light." "Lone Mallard" is a book of her haiku. In addition, over a hundred of her remarkable photos are available to look at (and purchase) on Upaya's website.

Bearing Witness to the Oneness of Life: Roshi Bernie Glassman

“Bernie has done an extraordinary thing in terms of liberating Zen from the constraints of hierarchy and culture,” Roshi Joan said as she introduced Roshi Bernie, her beloved teacher, our dharma grandfather in the Zen Peacemaker lineage, calling him “a path-maker” and “pathfinder.” Echoing Suzuki Roshi she said, “In the expert’s mind there are few possibilities, in the beginner’s mind there are infinite possibilities,” talking about how Bernie “steps continually onto new ground.” She added that Bernie has taught her “to cherish fundamental uncertainty—that’s where the mystery is.”

The Four Noble Truths in Our World—The Cessation of the Suffering of Caste: Sensei Hozan Alan Senauke

An enlightened society manifests both sides: the enhancement of life - what we might think of as life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness - and the protection of rights for all. As Dr. Ambedkar was studying the world's religions, seeking a home for India's untouchable communities, he was simultaneously agitating for Dalit rights in the political sphere. In his article on the Ambedkarite movement in Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia, Chris Queen says:

As for Nirvana, the Buddhist goal of liberation, Ambedkar writes of a "kingdom of righteousness on earth" and describes the Buddha's enlightenment not as the ripening of an individual's cosmic potential, but as a simple realization of the plight of others.

Abandon Hope: Roshin Carmen Mills

Sitting on the cushion, facing the wall. Eight hours a day for the past four days. I notice that my facial muscles are clenched: tightness at the back of my jaw, tension around my eyes. Try to call up the slight buddha-like smile, thinking it might melt the furrow between my brows. Open mouth wide, crack, release. Think happy thoughts—no, stop thinking! Breathe slower. Watch breath. Relax. IGNORE the tension. Be with it, just be with it (oh shut up). Ouch. Start again…

Upaya offers over 1000 free podcasts of great teachers of Buddhism and science. These talks, given by extraordinary Buddhist teachers such as Roshi Joan Halifax, Sharon Salzberg, Bernie Glassman, and many more, are offered to support your practice even if you live far away from Upaya.

Apps Available Now: Did you know you can have Upaya's dharma talks delivered directly to your mobile phone or MP3 player? iPhone and iPod users, just use iTunes to subscribe to our free podcast here.

Mind & Life International Symposium for Contemplative Studies

Roshi Joan has been a part of the Mind and Life Institute since its inception in the early 1980s. Join her, the Dalai Lama, and the most innovative thought leaders in neuroscience, psychology, clinical science, the humanities, philosophy, and education as they present their groundbreaking research and perspectives on contemplative studies.

• Metta Refuge Council for those who wish to explore and share their experiences with aging, sickness and death

Apply Now to be a Resident at Upaya!

Consider applying to Upaya Zen Center's residency program, with the opportunity to learn, practice and serve. We are receiving applications now for May through the summer and fall.

We consider our daily sitting practice (zazen), our work practice (samu), and the education that Upaya offers as a path to freedom.

Residents participate in three daily zazen periods, seminars, dharma talks, community meetings, councils, weekly teachings, and in all practice periods, zazenkais, and sesshins. We appreciate applications from people who have a committed practice, are psychologically strong, enjoy living in a robust sangha, and have real-life skills, particularly in the areas of cooking, gardening, housekeeping, office support, IT/AV, and maintenance.

Residents receive food and lodging and fully participate in our practice and learning schedule. For information or application: rpc@upaya.org

Donations to Upaya's Nomads Clinics

This September/October/November, Upaya's Nomads Clinics return to the Nepalese Himalayas to Mustang and Humla. The Nomads Clinic comprises a team of dedicated clinicians and friends, who make an annual pilgrimage to remote areas of the Himalayas to provide medical and humanitarian aid. We work alongside local and traditional doctors and health assistants, and train health workers in the region. Please consider giving a tax-deductable donation through Upaya.

Santa Fe Sangha Events

THURSDAYS (most), 9:20 am: Weekly Seminar, Upaya House living room - open to the public. Topic is usually related to the dharma talk of the evening before. To confirm that the seminar is happening that morning, please email temple@upaya.org.

SUNDAY, August 24, 6:00 p.m.Local Sangha Annual Potluck Please join the local Sangha for our annual summer celebration pot luck dinner. Bob and Jan Jahner’s have opened their home for this event. There will be a short planning meeting as well. Bring a dish according to which grouping your last name belongs to: A thru I - Salad J thru R – Main dish S thru Z – Dessert or hors d’oeuvres The Jahners' address is 2328 Sol Y Luz Street, Santa Fe. Newcomers welcome!

SUNDAY, August 31, Meditation Instruction, 3:00 p.m. An offering of temple etiquette and instruction in Zen forms by Upaya priests for those who are new to meditation and practice at Upaya. There is no fee, but registration is recommended. Please contact temple@upaya.org or 505-986-8518 ext. 21.

Request for Donations: This month, the Upaya Sangha will continue to take a collection of items for St. Elizabeth Shelter.

Needed items are: Unopened soap, shampoo, deodorant – travel and full size. Single bed sheets Pillow cases Items may be delivered to the box provided in the Upaya office, or to the potluck.

To find out about more local sangha events, please visit our Santa Fe Sangha web page.

You are an important part of Upaya's community! Thank you for your participation, and for sharing this with anyone else who may be interested.

CEUs and CNEs for 2014: Attention Therapists, Counselors, Social Workers, and Nurses

Upaya invites nurses, counselors, therapists, and social workers to attend our special retreats and trainings where CNEs and CEUs may be earned.

Calgary, AB, Canada: Calgary Contemplative End of Life Care Practice Group. For professionals and volunteers working with people who are dying. Second Monday each month at Hospice Calgary's Sage Center, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Sit starts at 7 p.m. For further information, contact laurie.lemieux@hospicecalgary.com

Westbury, Wiltshire, U.K. We meet fortnightly on Sundays between 3 and 5:00 p.m. At the end of May we begin a programme of Mindfulness Meditation Courses (on a donation basis) for the community. at The East Wing, 35 Church Street, Westbury, Wiltshire. For more info, e-mail Jan Mojsa, janmojsa@googlemail.com. www.eastwingpractice.co.uk